Month: May 2014

Launched in 1978, the International Sun-Earth Explorer-3 (ISSE-3) spacecraft was the first to study the constant flow of the solar wind and after a new mission was assigned to in 1984 to pass through a cometary tail, the craft headed deep into interplanetary space. Now 36 years old, the craft will make a close approach to the Earth in August 2014 and NASA has given permission to a group of citizen scientists to attempt to communicate with and possible control the craft. Click to read more

The Gitzo Systematic Series 5 GT5532S Carbon Fibre tripod is an excellent choice for the travelling astronomer. With a closed length of less than 63cm and weight of only 2.8kg, it travels easily, but with a load capacity of 40kg and fantastic torsional rigidity, it provides a very stable base for high power observing. Click to read more

The Tele Vue Delos eyepieces are quite simply the best I have ever used with unparalleled on-axis and off-axis performance and have relegated almost all the other eyepieces I own to being permanent residents of my eyepiece case. Click to read more